| Alcohol and drugs can be a confusing issue | | | | job. Keep it light, and do it often. |
| for kids. Drugs seem pretty cool in the | | | | |
| movies and on TV, and there's alcohol and | | | | For older kids, choose an appropriate moment |
| drug advertising everywhere: prescription | | | | - they don't respond well to "Now we have to |
| drugs for everything and anything, beer | | | | have a serious talk about drugs." Maybe |
| commercials, and liquor billboards are all | | | | they're watching TV and there's a reference |
| over the place. They're even advertised by | | | | to drug rehab and Britney Spears or |
| the beer in your own refrigerator and the | | | | alcoholism or substance abuse. Ask if they |
| pills bottles in your medicine cabinet. The | | | | know what that's all about, and clear it up. |
| fact is that parents who set a good example | | | | Always explain the family policy - we don't |
| and educate their kids about the dangers of | | | | do that stuff because it can make us sick. |
| alcohol and drugs can play a big part in | | | | |
| keeping their kids free of substance abuse | | | | Instead of waiting, create an opportunity. |
| that could lead to the need for drug rehab. | | | | Ask, "What about all these pop stars going |
| | | | into drug rehab?" Present the truth about |
| The average age a kid first tries alcohol is | | | | alcohol and drug abuse, addiction and drug |
| 11, and it's only 12 for marijuana. And | | | | rehab, discuss it all you want, and again, |
| that's just the average, which means plenty | | | | clearly set out the family policy. |
| start experimenting even younger. And kids | | | | |
| needing drug rehab have been as young as 10 | | | | Role-playing can help kids learn how to avoid |
| or 12. But research shows that kids are 50 | | | | being sucked into trying drugs without |
| percent less likely to use drugs and alcohol | | | | looking like a dork to their friends. Get |
| if their parents teach them about the | | | | them to come up with ways they can tactfully |
| dangers, early and well. | | | | refuse, and act them out with you until |
| | | | they're comfortable. "No thanks, I don't |
| How do you get your kids to listen to you? | | | | drink beer, I have to stay in shape for |
| According to surveys, parents who listen to | | | | baseball." or "No thanks, let's (insert a |
| their children's feelings and concerns, and | | | | favorite activity) instead." |
| don't belittle them, have a better chance of | | | | |
| establishing the kind of relationship needed | | | | Parents also need to find out about the local |
| to make kids comfortable about talking to | | | | drug scene and be able to tell their kids |
| them. Kids pay more attention, and parents | | | | what to expect. For example, learn some of |
| find it a lot easier to help them stay | | | | the terminology and how local kids might get |
| drug-free. | | | | drugs. And teach them that someone who says |
| | | | what they're offering isn't really a drug is |
| Choose information that suits a child's age | | | | probably lying. Always restate the family |
| and level of development. For a 6-year-old, | | | | policy! |
| look for opportunities to bring up the | | | | |
| subject. Maybe they're washing their hands or | | | | And if you discover that your kid is trying |
| brushing their teeth or taking their | | | | alcohol or drugs, find out how far it's gone. |
| vitamins. You can point out how that's one of | | | | If it's beyond the early experimentation |
| the ways we take care of ourselves to stay | | | | stage, call a drug rehab referral service and |
| healthy, but there are some things we | | | | discuss it with a professional counselor. |
| shouldn't do because they're not good for us, | | | | They might need to get them into a drug rehab |
| like smoking or taking medicine you don't get | | | | program fast before the situation gets even |
| from mom or dad. Short, simple statements | | | | worse. |
| that are repeated often enough do a better | | | | |